LAKE CHARLES – Generous citizens of Southwest Louisi-ana continue to drop off disaster assistance items to Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana a pattern that also has seen contributions from local industry and a restaurateur from Al-abama the week following Hurricane Harvey.

Catholic Charities staff, along with regular volunteers, and youth from various churches, such as St. Mary of the Lake in Big Lake, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, St. Martin de Porres to name a few, were helping to unload donations.

On Tuesday, August 29, Catholic Charities Assistant Direc-tor Jessica Watson received a phone call from a representa-tive of LyondellBasell, one of the largest plastics, chemicals and refining companies in the world, with a facility in West-lake. Watson was told that an 18-wheeler, which had been en route to Houston but couldn’t make it, was coming to Catholic Charities, having been directed by Lake Charles mayor Nic Hunter’s office. The mayor told them that Catholic Charities was providing food and supplies to several shelters that had been opened in the city, including the Lake Charles Civic Cen-ter. These shelters were only “comfort stations” for evacuees before they moved on to more permanent shelters in central and north Louisiana.

“It was a welcome surprise for us,” said Sr. Mary Vianney Walsh, RSM, director of Catholic Charities. “We were over-whelmed by the generosity shown by the LyondellBasell. The $15,488.86 worth of perishable food and other supplies was used to feed those evacuees being housed locally. This food will be such a blessing to all who are experiencing a hardship at this time due to the flooding.”

The donation consisted of steaks, ground meat, chicken breasts, orange juice, hot dogs, hot dog buns, and loaves of bread, cheese, cereal, milk eggs, chips of various kinds, but-ter, cookies, onions, and potatoes.

Frozen and refrigerated goods were stacked in freezers and refrigerators in the Catholic Charities warehouse as were breads loaded with cases of bottled water placed in a second-ary warehouse.

Bishop Glen John Provost and Msgr. James Gaddy made a stop at the Lake Charles Civic Center on Thursday, August 31, and visited many of the evacuees there. The Bishop spoke with people from Victoria and Orange, Texas; as well as those that had been flooded out of their homes in Iowa.

Bishop Provost offered a prayer before the noon meal at the Civic Center and Msgr. Gaddy helped fold napkins. They also made a stop at Catholic Charities a little later and were taken on a tour of the facility, being shown the many contribu-tions that had been delivered through the generosity of the community.

The facilities warehouse was filled as well as many of the rooms in the office building were being used to house over-flowed goods.

Donations needed include mop buckets, small hammers, heavy duty work gloves, square-toed shovels, flat pry bars, Lysol wipes, heavy duty trash bags, spray disinfectant with bleach, Gatorade, brooms, mops, Pine sol, Lysol, liquid dish soap, sponges, cleaning brushes, disposable face masks, mos-quito repellant, manual can openers, flashlights with batter-

ies, round laundry baskets, snack and non-perishable foods. Drop off at Catholic Charities, 1225 Second Street. Call Jes-sica at 337-912-8937 for more information or to make arrange-ments for large and/or special donations.

“Our thoughts are with those who have felt the effect of this devastating storm,” said Shawn Cullen, site manager of Lyon-dellBasell’s Lake Charles Polymers Plant. “We are partnering with Catholic Charities to help provide meals to those in need, we hope this donation brings comfort to them while they are dealing with so much.”

Later in the week, a restaurateur from Mobile, Alabama, with family ties to Southwest Louisiana - Jeff LaCour and staff of his restaurants– dropped off a 26-foot long rental truck filled with supplies, including water, diapers, and cleaning supplies, at Catholic Charities. LaCour, who owns several Moes’ Southwest Grill locations in Alabama, received pictures of the flooding in Houston by members of his family. Restau-rant staff had posted the need for donations on social media.

After a slightly slow start, at least in LaCour’s eyes, on the first day, contributions picked up and nearly 1,000 pounds ended up being trucked to Lake Charles.

Originally, LaCour wanted to drive to Houston but with roads still impassable in many areas due to flooding particu-larly Interstate 10, Lake Charles and Catholic Charities be-came the final stopping point.

Youth of Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings took some of their time off, with schools closed early

in the week, to help their brothers and sisters in need.The group met at St. Mary’s Center in Jennings and using

social media to advertise the needs, needed only seven hours to receive enough contributions to load an 18-wheeler to de-liver to Catholic Charities. The truck and driver that brought the donations supplies to Lake Charles came through the fur-ther generosity of Port Aggregates, Inc. of Jennings.

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Vol. 43, No. 16

Disaster donationsarrive from

far and wide

WESTLAKE -- The 2017 Bishop’s Golf Classic will be played Friday, Oct. 6, at the National Golf Club of Loui-siana, 2801 Louisiana Way. The four-person scramble tournament will feature an afternoon round with a 1 p.m. shotgun start, following lunch. Registration begins at noon.

The field will be limited to the first 36 teams. Dead-line for registration is Mon-day, Sept. 29.

Fees are $500 per team, with prizes for first, second and tenth low gross. Prizes for the longest drive and closest to the hole will also be given and a $5,000 cash prize goes to the first golfer to score a hole in one.

Tee box sponsorships are $150, green sponsorships are $300 and banner spon-sorships are $1,000.

Presenting sponsors for the tournament are City Sav-ings Bank of DeRidder and Alfred Palma LLC of Lake Charles as well as Bubba

Oustalet Automotive Group of Jennings.

Proceeds from the event provide financial assistance to the Seminarian Educa-tion Fund and the Priest Re-tirement Fund.

Educating the men who are studying for the priest-hood for the Diocese of Lake Charles is an expensive task. 13 men are currently in various stages of their edu-cation and training at four different seminaries.

The Diocese provides 55 percent of a seminarian’s educational cost at the col-lege/philosophy level with the students responsible for the remainder. At the theological seminary the Diocese obligates itself to pay 100 percent of the edu-cational costs

At the opposite end of priestly life is the retired priest. We must see to the care and welfare of these men who have given their lives to spreading the Gos-pel message in the faith

communities of Southwest Louisiana.

Currently 15 priests are in this category. The Diocese will expend over $300,000 on the welfare of these wonder-ful and holy men during the next fiscal year. The depth of their sacrifice to the Faith is reason enough to aid them for the remainder of their days.

Registration forms will be available at area golf courses and the offices of the Diocese of Lake Charles, 414 Iris Street.

Payment of fees and reg-istration using a credit card or e-check is available on the Diocese of Lake Charles website. – lcdiocese.org. Click the “Event Registra-tion” button, then “Bishop’s Golf Classic” and follow the easy steps to register your team or become a sponsor.

Contact Larry DeRous-sel at 337-794-8339 or e-mail lderoussel@laia.com for more information.

Bishop’s Golf ClassicOct. 6 at The National

LAKE CHARLES -- The Of-fice of Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the diocese is committed to form the young church by supporting and empowering youth leaders and their teens to be Christ in the world. It will host a Youth Garage Sale from Thursday, Oct. 19, to Saturday, Oct. 21, at 411 Iris Street.

The office provides par-ishes of the diocese and their young people with the oppor-tunity to attend solid Catholic events such as the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC).

“It is an event in which Catholic teens and adults

come together to pray, learn, and grow in their faith,” said Milissa Thibodeaux, director of the office. ”In addition to opportunities to receive the sacraments of the Eucharist and penance, participants attend general sessions with amazing music and keynotes as well as breakout sessions on topics relevant to living as a disciple of Christ in to-day’s world. They also have the opportunity to visit with organizations that provide resources and other support to youth and youth ministry, spend time in personal and communal prayer, and en-gage in service to others.

“An event such as NCYC can get expensive so we need the support of our diocesan community,” Thibodeaux continued. “In our prepa-ration for the garage sale, we are collecting items the through the end of Septem-ber and the first part of Octo-ber.”

Donations can be dropped off at 411 Iris Street on week-days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to pickup a donation, call 337-439-7400. Extension 301.

Thibodeaux also noted that no clothing will be taken except for nice children’s clothes and jackets/coats.

Youth garage sale Oct. 19-21

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Diocese Of Lake CharlesBishop’s Services Appeal

2017 - 2018

Heed theCall of Christ

In photo 1, a volunteer of Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana unloads a pallet of donations from the LyondellBasell Polymers Plant in Westlake that was dropped off at the 1225 Second Street location of Catholic Charities. Nearly $15,500 worth of perishable and non-perishable food was contributed. Local residents also made an enormous impact with their own contributions, some small, some large, but all appreciated and needed. In photo 2, Jaren Dubois, a parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, came with her children to drop off bedding, towns, diapers, and other goods to Jessica Watson, assistant director of Catholic Charities. Bishop Glen John Provost, in photo 3, visited with many evacuees, some local and others from as far away as Victoria, Texas at the shelter at the Lake Charles Civic Center before praying grace before the midday meal. Youth from Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Jennings took only seven hours, using social media to advertise the need, to fill up an 18-wheeler with contributions for Catholic Charities. Shown in photo 4, the group poses among many of the donations in St. Mary’s Center in Jennings.

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2017-2018 Bishop’s Services Appealcollection on weekend of October 7-8

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September 15, 2017

The Most Reverend Glen John ProvostBishop of Lake Charles

LAKE CHARLES – The Sixth Annual Bishop’s Gala will be held on Saturday, Dec. 9 in the Lake Charles Civic Center from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.. Tickets will be available September 1 in the parishes of the Diocese, at the dioce-san Chancery (414 Iris Street) or on-line at www.lcdiocese.org, for this special event.

The Ronnie Renfrow Big Band will provide the night’s entertainment. Tickets are $125 per person or a table for 10 is available for $1,250. A number of special sponsor-ship opportunities are avail-able as well - Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Multiple numbers of each of these sponsorships will be offered. For information on them, call

337-439-7400, Ext. 220.Doors open at 6 p.m. for a

VIP social with general ad-mittance at 6:30 p.m. The al-ways anticipated silent auc-tion will begin at 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.

Proceeds netted from the event aid in the continuing evangelization efforts of the diocesan Offices of Com-munications, including the production of the Catholic Calendar – the print arm of diocesan communications, as well as the preparation and publication of the Catho-lic Calendar in the American Press, on the third Friday of each month with the excep-tions of the month in which Easter falls and December, when the Catholic Calendar

will appear on the first and third Friday. Additionally, funds realized from the Gala provide for the maintenance and updating of diocesan website – www.lcdiocese.org – and the broadcast of the 9:30 a.m. Mass each Sunday from the Cathedral of the Im-maculate Conception on two local radio stations – KLCL-AM 1470 and KJEF-AM 1260.

Renfrow, Houston’s pop-ular on-air personality at KQUE Radio for 21 years, will bring his “Ballads, Blues and Classic Swing, Too.” He and his orchestra have per-formed in venues throughout the state of Texas and sur-rounding areas.

The band doesn’t get trapped in any one style, per-

forming your favorite dance music from their wide-rang-ing repertoire that plays to any age and taste with dy-namic, visual impact and dra-matic flair. This is swinging music, bound not by era or genre but by quality.

On his radio show, Ren-frow plays everything from Frank Sinatra to Norah Jones, with knowledge about each song and singer, and the backstories.

On several occasions over the past decades, Renfrow has won accolades from the radio community including being named “Best Radio Personality” by the Houston Press.

Tony Melendez

Sixth Annual Bishop’s Gala on Dec. 9

LAKE CHARLES – In con-junction with the 60th anni-versary of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, all are invited to a day of reflection of prayer, praise, and wor-ship with Tony Melendez on Saturday, Oct. 7,

A Salute to God’s Gifts schedule of events begins in the main church of OLQH at 7:45 a.m. with a Rosary medi-tating on the Glorious Myster-ies, led by the Lay Carmelites and at 8:30 a.m with Mass of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The site moves from the church to the Family Life

Community Center gym, 3939 Kingston Street, at 9:15 a.m. starting with praise and worship music with Melen-dez and the Toe Jam Band. Melendez will also share his unique testimony. Fr. Jeffrey Starkovich will make a pre-sentation at 11 a.m. followed by another talk at 11:30 a.m.

At noon, food trucks (Slop-py Taco and Mr. Gatti’s), Kona Ice, and a Concession Stand will be available for lunch.

Starting at 2 p.m. there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Adora-tion, Prayer, and Music at 2 p.m.; Benediction at 3:30 p.m. in the gym; with the celebra-tion of the Vigil Mass at 4 p.m.

in the main church and fol-lowed at 7 p.m. with Melendez presenting a concert, sharing his story, which includes an encounter with St. John Paul II. Tony’s brother Jose’ will provide an introduction.

Tony Melendez was born without arms and wore artifi-cial arms until he was ten. He disposed of them at that time, because he could use his feet so much more. His profi-ciency with his feet extended to more areas than just day-to-day care. He remembers that “at first, I started playing push-button organ. Then in high school I began playing around with the guitar and harmonica.”

He also began writing his own songs. Whether it was “playing around” with music or merely adjusting to a nor-mal high school routine, Tony never let his handicap get in his way. For more about Tony and the Toe Jam band visit www.tonymelendez.com.

Confessions will be avail-able in the Community Cen-ter from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CD’s, books, and t-shirts will be available for sale 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Life Center kobbyy.

For more information and a detailed schedule, visit www.olqh.org or call the OLQH Church office at 477-1236.

Pope Francis, Bishop Provost Prayer IntentionsThe prayer intention of Pope Francis for the month of Oc-

tober, for Workers and the Unemployed, is that all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good.

Bishop Provost’s monthly intention is for our medical pro-fessionals, that their work of healing and quality care increase for the benefit of the sick and dying and that their service be an example to us all of God’s loving protection.

September 40 Hours Devotion LAKE CHARLES – Forty Hours Devotion to the Blessed

Sacrament, praying for an increase in vocations to the priest-hood in the Diocese of Lake Charles, continues in the East Deanery during the remainder of September.

Adoration at Sacred Heart of Jesus Oakdale is Sunday, Sept. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m.; Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Sept. 18-Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Pro-Life banquet Oct. 3LAKE CHARLES – The 27th annual New Life Counseling

pro-life banquet is Tuesday Oct. 3 in the Coliseum of the Lake Charles Civic Center with guest speaker Ryan Bomberger,.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with the banquet beginning at 6:30 p.m. For tickets or more information call 337-474-7003 or email nlcbanquet@gmail.com. Ticket deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017.

Ticket prices include Friend of Life single ticket, $75. Nu-merous sponsorship opportunities also exist.

October breakfast, luncheon dates LAKE CHARLES – The women’s luncheon with Bishop

Glen John Provost and the Men’s First Friday prayer break-fast are slated for Wednesday, Oct. 4, and Friday, Oct. 6, re-spectively, in Ave Maria Hall of the Cathedral office complex.

The scriptural topic for the year - the Letter of St. James, the First and Second Letters of St. Peter and the Letter of St. Jude – continue with the third and fourth chapter of St. James.

Women should send a check in the amount of $15, payable to the Diocese of Lake Charles, to Bishop’s Luncheon, 414 Iris Street, Lake Charles, 70601. A stamped self-addressed enve-lope should included with payment and.

The men’s breakfast begins with the celebration of the Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception with breakfast immediately after, followed by the presentation.

Men should call 337-439-7400 to register.

Devotional luncheon at St. Joseph MissionLEBLEU SETTLEMENT -- St Joseph Mission Chapel will

host Father Wayne LeBleu, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, in the presentation “The Mass Ex-plained” at a devotional luncheon Saturday, September 30, at 11:30 a.m., in the church at 2110 Claude Hebert Road.

Tickets are $15. For more information or tickets contact Laurie Vidrine at 292-9669 or Lonnie Vidrine at 337-532-4450.

Sacred Heart of Jesus bazaar Oct. 14-15LAKE CHARLES – Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church

will host its nnual bazaar on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14-15, on the church grounds, 612 Louisiana Avenue.

Festivities will take place Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 pm. and on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Barbecue chicken dinners along with rib dinners will be featured in addition to sweet potato pies, popcorn balls, and other delicious food items. There will also be games, rides, and music on Sunday.

There will be bingo on Sunday, starting at 3 p.m. Raffle tickets, which features two $1,000 prizes and two additional prizes, available at the church office at 337-439-2646.

Saint Charles Center accepting applicationsMOSS BLUFF -- Saint Charles Center is accepting applica-

tions for a part-time cook.Interested applicants need to be available for immediate

employment and previous work in the kitchen is preferred. Applicants need to be flexible and available to work various hours during the week as well as some weekends.

The setting of the retreat center provides the employee a peaceful environment with a spirit of shared collaboration among cooperative staff members.

If interested, contact Michelle Monceaux at 337-855-1232.

Special Needs Mass Oct. 22LAKE CHARLES – Bishop Glen John Provost will celebrate

a Mass for Individuals with Special Needs and their families at 11 a.m. Sunday Oct. 22, in St. Louis Catholic High School.

Call Karen Duhon at 337-478-0243 or Geri Christ Landry at 337-433-5662 for more information.

Diocesan Briefs.....

During the month of August, Bishop Glen John Provost installed two new pastors at their respective parish, Rev. Gijo Ikkaramattom, HGN, of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Sulphur and Rev. Arvind Minz, HGN of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Hackberry. The rite begins following the Gospel when the Bishop introduces the pastor to his new flock and invites parishioners to express their approval. Following his homily, Bishop Provost presents parish leadership, such as deacons, trustees, pastoral council and finance council members who will assist him in the care of the parish. In turn, he pledges to seek the guidance of such leadership. In the photo at left, Father Gijo, who previously led his people in the Profession of Faith, and here recites an Oath of Fidelity with his hand placed on the Bible. At right, Father Minz greets the parish leadership of St. Peter the Apostle.

Day of reflection of prayer, praise, and worship with Tony Melendez Oct. 7, at Our Lady Queen of Heaven

The Most Reverend Glen John Provost, Bishop of Lake Charles, has asked that during the hurricane season of 2017 the people of the Diocese of Lake Charles pray the following prayer, composed in 1957 by The Most Reverend Maurice Schexnayder, Second Bishop of Lafayette, following Hurricane Audrey:

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children.

The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude.

You are still the Master of the land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, and overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster.

During this hurricane season we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen.

TheMostReverendMauriceSchexnayder SecondBishopofLafayette